Your Character's Name: Jane Thompson Most days Kate and I see nothing. We wander around this wasteland scavenging and foraging. We hide in caves or near tree lines. Kate spends a lot of her time mumbling about the things that have happened in her past. She taps her hand and counts out the anxiety. Some days it irritates the shit out of me. I care about her though, and so I try not to interrupt what she needs to do to stay calm. This world has screwed her up bad, and I know there is nothing I can do about that. At night we take turns taking shifts on watch so nothing gets the jump on us. Some nights I hold her and tell her everything will be alright. Other nights she has panic attacks and I watch from a distance. Sometimes instead of sleeping I listen to her cry for her family as she stands guard. When she finally gets to sleep she has nightmares and thrashes around in her sleep. I couldn't be there when she needed me the most, and there's nothing I can do for her now. I'm forced to watch her suffer and it tears me apart. Kate is the only person, since my parents died, that I have trusted. She is the same with me. As such she is the only person I care about in this world. This Kate is not the same Kate I had known before the Raider Attack. I remember the strength she had, the composure. I knew Kate could hold her own, but some days I lacked confidence in her. ~~ I woke up to the sirens going off in the village. I jumped out of bed and grabbed for my guns and weapons. A table leg that my brothers had taught me how to reinforce and balance was my most prized skull crusher. I bolted out the door and grabbed my horse. I lived on the south east side of town, in the outskirts, but I could see many of the homes were ablaze. Kate lived with her family on the exact opposite side of town. She was my best friend I had to get to her. I had to help my home. As I made my to the middle of town, so many of the people I cared about were fighting with raiders. Many of these raiders were too much for them, and I wasn't goign to just let them die! This was my home! In one swift motion I launched off of the horse landing on top of the attackers. He had no idea what just hit him. He was much larger than I was, as were most people, but I was more agile. As we scuffled, I pulled out my knife and stabbed him in the gut. As he screamed in pain, I put him out of his misery by slicing his throat. I didn't stick around to listen to him choke to death. I ran on to the next one and kicked in the back of his knees. I wasn't one to be so brutal, but something in me snapped, and I just had to get across to Kate and her family. The raider howled and collapsed on the ground and I dug my table leg into the back of skull. The crunching noise was satisfying. I ducked behind one of the houses nearby and contemplated my next move. I hear feet coming up between the homes as yet another raider runs by me. I trip him up, and my knife slides between his armor into his neck. It felt like slicing through butter. I twisted the knife holding the raider down, and I waited until there was no life left in him. I checked the area, and wiped off my knife. I was barely half way through town, what if I was already too late? Kate was the only friend I had in this world, I needed her. I loved her. I had a bunch of emotions running through me, and I knew this wasn't the time to be dealing with them. I had no idea what this meant, but I knew I had to still get to Kate. I ran as fast as I could towards the northwest quadrant of town. There were less Raiders now. There were probably retreating by now. Many people, villagers and raiders laid dead or wounded on the ground. The sun was already coming up behind me, illuminating a lot of the damage. As I reached Kate's "block" all I saw were charred homes, dead bodies, and possessions strewn about.
I was in shock as I approached where Kate's house used to stand. I kicked over smoldering boards and turned over tables. The only thing left standing was the southern wall. Kate's house was never much, but she, her mother, brother, and sister loved the place. The times I'd stay for dinner after my parents died. All the times Kate and I sat on her bed laughing and making jokes. All of it was gone. As I flipped over things I realized that there weren't even any bodies. Kate could have gotten away still! I took one last look hoping I could salvage something, but saw nothing. I stepped out of the rubble and brushed off my hands. Looking down I saw something reflecting in the dirt. It was Kate's knife. She would never go anywhere without it, something wasn't right. I dug it out and cleaned it off. Kate's grandfather had given her this knife, it was too important to her to leave behind. ~~ "Jane! Jane!" I was on the kitchen floor playing with my toys when I heard Kate screaming outside. I scrambled out of the house in time to see Kate sprint into the yard. "Jane!" Kate gasped for air, as she tried to sputter out her words. I looked at her with some concern, but I was also really excited to hear what news she brain. I laughed as she stuttered, still clutching her chest. Kate waved her hands around, and tried not to laugh, too. "Happy Birthday, by the way, Kate!" Kate took a big breath and finally she was able to say thanks. Still slightly out of breath, Kate gave up and finally shoved something into my hands. I looked at the wooden box in my hands, and opened it. Inside I stared in disbelief at the folded knife sitting on a bed of cloth. "Grandpa gave it to me for my birthday!" I remember Kate's excitement so clearly. "Mom was so mad, too! You should've seen her Jane. She was yelling at grandpa for so long. Stuff like she's too young for a knife. And grandpa kept telling her that he was seven when he got his first one, and mom was just so mad! I mean I'm eight, that's a whole year older than he was! Isn't it awesome!" I laughed at how fast she was talking. I took the knife out and opened it, examining every inch of it. "It is pretty awesome, Kate. It's better than mine, even." I folded it up again, and placed it in the box. "No way! And if it is, you know how to use yours better anyway. Your brothers teach you everything." ~~ I headed back through town slowly. I checked on the wounded, and helped identify those that were dead. Many of the dead raiders would provide some nice weapons for those who needed them. It was late in the evening now and Kate was nowhere to be found. I was scared for her, and I was angry at myself. How could I not have been there for her? I helped the village recollect itself. We helped those that lost their homes find others to stay with. I was only fourteen, but I knew this was the worst attack that most of these people had seen in a very long time. When I finally made it home, I fell into bed. I spent most of the night crying. I cried that my parents didn't have to suffer through this, too. I cried that my brothers were hopefully safe. I cried for all of my neighbors that died or lost those closest to them. Most of all I cried that I wasn't there to save Kate. That my best friend and her family were gone. I felt like I had failed everyone important to me. I only remember the beginnings of my next plan before I passed out from exhaustion. ~~ As I stood guard I listened to Kate's muffled cries. She always tried to be so reserved about it, but we both knew I knew. I wanted to comfort her, but decided that wouldn't be a good idea. I began a small patrol circle to try to give her a little more space. I understood why she was haunted. She couldn't save her family in time, just as I felt I had let her down, she felt she let her whole family down. I couldn't imagine her pain, though, what she saw while in the raiders camp, the sounds from everyone being tortured, watching her mother be skinned alive. We only ever talked about it once. ~~ I was in the kitchen. I hadn't done anything in days. I hadn't eaten in a while, and I finally had some strength to at least make a breakfast of sorts. I stood near the window looking over the plains as I spooned some soup into my mouth. I was forcing it down only so I could survive, but I wasn't sure what I was surviving for anymore. I turned away to head to the table and finish this atrocity of food I prepared. I sat for a long time staring at the middle of the table. I was still completely crushed inside. I had lost everything it seemed, and I didn't see the need to stay with the village. I thought about what I would miss about the place, and decided anything that meant something to me was already gone. I was certain my brothers would be fine on their mercenary missions, and they came back less and less each year. I slurped up the rest of my soup and crossed the kitchen back to the sink. I didn't bother washing the bowl or spoon very well. A quick rinse and a wipe and I set them aside to dry. I didn't want to waste too much of my water supply. I hunched over the sink basin contemplating when I should leave, and which direction was best. I watched the water in the sink drain slowly into an irrigating system I had rigged up. I had some tomatoes that I kept hidden inside and decided I'd wait til they were ready for picking and I'd leave then. I let out a deep sigh and pushed myself upright off the sink. I looked out the window one last time to check where the sun was. That's when I saw her. Her clothes were tattered and in some places nonexistent. Blood stained most of what was left. I was frozen. I watched as she teetered on her feet, but I couldn't find the control to run out her. A crude knife fell out of her hand and hit the dirt and gravel of my land. Suddenly, she collapsed. "Kate!" I finally found my legs, and booked out of the house. I ran so fast I had to slide on the ground so I wouldn't run past her. I rolled her over, and pulled her into my arms. I was flooded with thoughts. Where did they take her? How did she escape? What of the rest of her family? I checked the wounds I could see, and checked her pulse. I could barely feel it. I thought I was going to have to lose her a second time. I mustered up the strength and carried her inside. After a few days she finally woke up. She was still weak, and didn't seem to remember much, but of what she did, it was all horrific. My eyes welled up with tears as I mourned the loss of her family. And I would never let it happen to her again. ~~ It was nearing time for Kate's guard shift. She had just falling asleep, too. I stared at her on the ground wondering if she'd ever be okay again, but somewhere deep inside of me I knew that maybe was too hopeful. I wasn't going to give up on her though, and I was never going to let her down again. She appeared to be sleeping soundly this time. I decided that I'd let her sleep, and stayed up the rest of the night. She needed some real sleep more than I did.
Most days Kate and I see nothing. We wander around this wasteland scavenging and foraging. We hide in caves or near tree lines. Kate spends a lot of her time mumbling about the things that have happened in her past. She taps her hand and counts out the anxiety. Some days it irritates the shit out of me. I care about her though, and so I try not to interrupt what she needs to do to stay calm. This world has screwed her up bad, and I know there is nothing I can do about that.
At night we take turns taking shifts on watch so nothing gets the jump on us. Some nights I hold her and tell her everything will be alright. Other nights she has panic attacks and I watch from a distance. Sometimes instead of sleeping I listen to her cry for her family as she stands guard. When she finally gets to sleep she has nightmares and thrashes around in her sleep. I couldn't be there when she needed me the most, and there's nothing I can do for her now. I'm forced to watch her suffer and it tears me apart.
Kate is the only person, since my parents died, that I have trusted. She is the same with me. As such she is the only person I care about in this world. This Kate is not the same Kate I had known before the Raider Attack. I remember the strength she had, the composure. I knew Kate could hold her own, but some days I lacked confidence in her.
~~
I woke up to the sirens going off in the village. I jumped out of bed and grabbed for my guns and weapons. A table leg that my brothers had taught me how to reinforce and balance was my most prized skull crusher. I bolted out the door and grabbed my horse. I lived on the south east side of town, in the outskirts, but I could see many of the homes were ablaze. Kate lived with her family on the exact opposite side of town. She was my best friend I had to get to her. I had to help my home.
As I made my to the middle of town, so many of the people I cared about were fighting with raiders. Many of these raiders were too much for them, and I wasn't goign to just let them die! This was my home!
In one swift motion I launched off of the horse landing on top of the attackers. He had no idea what just hit him. He was much larger than I was, as were most people, but I was more agile. As we scuffled, I pulled out my knife and stabbed him in the gut. As he screamed in pain, I put him out of his misery by slicing his throat. I didn't stick around to listen to him choke to death. I ran on to the next one and kicked in the back of his knees. I wasn't one to be so brutal, but something in me snapped, and I just had to get across to Kate and her family.
The raider howled and collapsed on the ground and I dug my table leg into the back of skull. The crunching noise was satisfying. I ducked behind one of the houses nearby and contemplated my next move. I hear feet coming up between the homes as yet another raider runs by me. I trip him up, and my knife slides between his armor into his neck. It felt like slicing through butter. I twisted the knife holding the raider down, and I waited until there was no life left in him.
I checked the area, and wiped off my knife. I was barely half way through town, what if I was already too late? Kate was the only friend I had in this world, I needed her. I loved her. I had a bunch of emotions running through me, and I knew this wasn't the time to be dealing with them. I had no idea what this meant, but I knew I had to still get to Kate.
I ran as fast as I could towards the northwest quadrant of town. There were less Raiders now. There were probably retreating by now. Many people, villagers and raiders laid dead or wounded on the ground. The sun was already coming up behind me, illuminating a lot of the damage. As I reached Kate's "block" all I saw were charred homes, dead bodies, and possessions strewn about.
I was in shock as I approached where Kate's house used to stand. I kicked over smoldering boards and turned over tables. The only thing left standing was the southern wall. Kate's house was never much, but she, her mother, brother, and sister loved the place. The times I'd stay for dinner after my parents died. All the times Kate and I sat on her bed laughing and making jokes. All of it was gone.
As I flipped over things I realized that there weren't even any bodies. Kate could have gotten away still!
I took one last look hoping I could salvage something, but saw nothing. I stepped out of the rubble and brushed off my hands. Looking down I saw something reflecting in the dirt. It was Kate's knife. She would never go anywhere without it, something wasn't right. I dug it out and cleaned it off. Kate's grandfather had given her this knife, it was too important to her to leave behind.
~~
"Jane! Jane!" I was on the kitchen floor playing with my toys when I heard Kate screaming outside. I scrambled out of the house in time to see Kate sprint into the yard. "Jane!" Kate gasped for air, as she tried to sputter out her words. I looked at her with some concern, but I was also really excited to hear what news she brain. I laughed as she stuttered, still clutching her chest. Kate waved her hands around, and tried not to laugh, too.
"Happy Birthday, by the way, Kate!"
Kate took a big breath and finally she was able to say thanks. Still slightly out of breath, Kate gave up and finally shoved something into my hands. I looked at the wooden box in my hands, and opened it. Inside I stared in disbelief at the folded knife sitting on a bed of cloth.
"Grandpa gave it to me for my birthday!" I remember Kate's excitement so clearly. "Mom was so mad, too! You should've seen her Jane. She was yelling at grandpa for so long. Stuff like she's too young for a knife. And grandpa kept telling her that he was seven when he got his first one, and mom was just so mad! I mean I'm eight, that's a whole year older than he was! Isn't it awesome!"
I laughed at how fast she was talking. I took the knife out and opened it, examining every inch of it. "It is pretty awesome, Kate. It's better than mine, even." I folded it up again, and placed it in the box.
"No way! And if it is, you know how to use yours better anyway. Your brothers teach you everything."
~~
I headed back through town slowly. I checked on the wounded, and helped identify those that were dead. Many of the dead raiders would provide some nice weapons for those who needed them. It was late in the evening now and Kate was nowhere to be found. I was scared for her, and I was angry at myself. How could I not have been there for her?
I helped the village recollect itself. We helped those that lost their homes find others to stay with. I was only fourteen, but I knew this was the worst attack that most of these people had seen in a very long time.
When I finally made it home, I fell into bed. I spent most of the night crying. I cried that my parents didn't have to suffer through this, too. I cried that my brothers were hopefully safe. I cried for all of my neighbors that died or lost those closest to them. Most of all I cried that I wasn't there to save Kate. That my best friend and her family were gone. I felt like I had failed everyone important to me. I only remember the beginnings of my next plan before I passed out from exhaustion.
~~
As I stood guard I listened to Kate's muffled cries. She always tried to be so reserved about it, but we both knew I knew. I wanted to comfort her, but decided that wouldn't be a good idea. I began a small patrol circle to try to give her a little more space.
I understood why she was haunted. She couldn't save her family in time, just as I felt I had let her down, she felt she let her whole family down. I couldn't imagine her pain, though, what she saw while in the raiders camp, the sounds from everyone being tortured, watching her mother be skinned alive. We only ever talked about it once.
~~
I was in the kitchen. I hadn't done anything in days. I hadn't eaten in a while, and I finally had some strength to at least make a breakfast of sorts. I stood near the window looking over the plains as I spooned some soup into my mouth. I was forcing it down only so I could survive, but I wasn't sure what I was surviving for anymore.
I turned away to head to the table and finish this atrocity of food I prepared. I sat for a long time staring at the middle of the table. I was still completely crushed inside. I had lost everything it seemed, and I didn't see the need to stay with the village. I thought about what I would miss about the place, and decided anything that meant something to me was already gone. I was certain my brothers would be fine on their mercenary missions, and they came back less and less each year.
I slurped up the rest of my soup and crossed the kitchen back to the sink. I didn't bother washing the bowl or spoon very well. A quick rinse and a wipe and I set them aside to dry. I didn't want to waste too much of my water supply. I hunched over the sink basin contemplating when I should leave, and which direction was best. I watched the water in the sink drain slowly into an irrigating system I had rigged up. I had some tomatoes that I kept hidden inside and decided I'd wait til they were ready for picking and I'd leave then.
I let out a deep sigh and pushed myself upright off the sink. I looked out the window one last time to check where the sun was. That's when I saw her.
Her clothes were tattered and in some places nonexistent. Blood stained most of what was left. I was frozen. I watched as she teetered on her feet, but I couldn't find the control to run out her. A crude knife fell out of her hand and hit the dirt and gravel of my land. Suddenly, she collapsed.
"Kate!" I finally found my legs, and booked out of the house. I ran so fast I had to slide on the ground so I wouldn't run past her. I rolled her over, and pulled her into my arms. I was flooded with thoughts. Where did they take her? How did she escape? What of the rest of her family? I checked the wounds I could see, and checked her pulse. I could barely feel it. I thought I was going to have to lose her a second time. I mustered up the strength and carried her inside.
After a few days she finally woke up. She was still weak, and didn't seem to remember much, but of what she did, it was all horrific. My eyes welled up with tears as I mourned the loss of her family. And I would never let it happen to her again.
~~
It was nearing time for Kate's guard shift. She had just falling asleep, too. I stared at her on the ground wondering if she'd ever be okay again, but somewhere deep inside of me I knew that maybe was too hopeful. I wasn't going to give up on her though, and I was never going to let her down again. She appeared to be sleeping soundly this time. I decided that I'd let her sleep, and stayed up the rest of the night. She needed some real sleep more than I did.